Ceremony set to honor Walk of Fame inductees

Wednesday

Oct 23, 2013 at 8:00 AM

Eight inductees into the Colon Magicians’ Walk of Fame will be honored at a ceremony Saturday.

By Jef RietsmaJournal Correspondent

Eight inductees into the Colon Magicians’ Walk of Fame will be honored at a ceremony Saturday.Fanfare begins at 1 p.m. in downtown Colon, where recipients, their family members or professional associates will help formally dedicate the star plaques honoring those who either have made an impact on the profession of magic and illusion, or played a key role in the 70-plus years Colon has hosted its annual gathering of professionals.Rick Fisher, owner of FAB Magic Co., said stars for five of the eight recipients are already in place. The other three stars will be placed by next year, he said.“Not every member of the group of eight has family, or they have family but they can’t be here,” Fisher said.The ceremony marks official induction into the Colon Magicians’ Walk of Fame, Fisher said.Stars honoring Richard Tanis, Wilma Rench, Bill Watson, The Amazing Conklins and Harry Blackstone Sr. are already in place throughout downtown. Stars honoring 2013 Walk of Fame inductees Harry Blackstone Jr., June Horowitz and Percy Abbott will be set in concrete when weather permits and local concrete worker Frank Farrand has time to do the task.Fisher said Farrand, of Farrand’s Flatwork, deserves special recognition for doing the work at no cost.“He was one of the first people to pick up the phone when we announced the Colon Magicians’ Walk of Fame and ask if there was anything he could do to help,” Fisher said. “Frank has donated his time, he has all the tools to do the job and he does expert work, so I hope the community shows its appreciation to Frank.”Afternoon fanfare on Saturday precedes a benefit magic show, a seven-act program beginning at 6 p.m. at Colon High School. Fisher said when he sent notice about Saturday’s show to his peers in the International Brotherhood of Magicians 386, the response was immediate and overwhelming.“We have out-of-state talent coming from Chicago and Indianapolis, and some local acts from Battle Creek, Dowagiac and the Colon-area … a really strong lineup of talent,” Fisher said. “We’d like to remind people this is all for the Colon Food Pantry, so please bring what you can, give what you can, and enjoy the show.”Admission to the show is a boxed or canned good, or cash contribution, with all donations going to the Colon Food Pantry.Fisher said the Colon Food Pantry is in great need of contributions and Saturday’s program marks the second consecutive year of the fundraiser in support of the local organization. About 75 people attended a November 2012 inaugural benefit, organized on a spur-of-the-moment, Fisher said.“We’re a little more organized this year and we wanted to tie it in with National Magic Week, so we moved back into October,” he said. “It’s a great cause and we’re hoping to get a good crowd that wants to help make a difference in the Colon community.”Fisher said about 300 families have signed up seeking assistance from the local food pantry, an overwhelming number that shows hard times are still being felt by many local residents. Fisher said it’s his understanding that the majority of those recipients are elderly.